CB project

Wingedwheel

Wingedwheel

If it wasn’t broke before, let me try it…
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I thought I had posted a thread about starting this a yr and a half ago or so but I couldn't find it to add to it so I'll do a rundown as I post the progress. I picked up a 1978 CB750A from a widow that was getting rid of all her late husbands "junk" Basically he had gotten the bike in the late eighties and before doing anything with it had an accident which pretty much stopped any motorcycle activity. The thing sat under a tarp until I bought it and that's where the fun begins. Hondamatichome1.JPG Hondamatichome2.JPG
The engine wasn't locked up was probably the only reason I bought it. It came with the usual problems of PO neglect.fusebox.JPG frametop1.JPG frametop2.JPG
 
I could get the engine"drag" over with the starter but compression in # 4 was pretty much non existent So the total teardown process began. tankoff1.JPG
 
Thanks guys, but it has been fun, and a bit frustrating as the Hondamatic model has a few "quirks" that make it just a little different from the regular 750's. After I pulled the engine and the head, # 4 piston rings were stuck and that was a battle getting them off without ruining the piston. For some reason I also had a bent valve so I sent the head out to a professional to rework everything back to spec.head.JPG
while I was waiting for parts I went after the frame and began to see other things that needed replacing. Unfortunately unlike the XS, parts are not as readily available. Most items I picked up from CL, swap meets and Ebay.
cable.JPG I did manage to pick up a doner K model for some of the frame and chassis parts and accessories but again with this bike things were just a little different.
Basically the same components but different battery box and mounting spots, wiring harness was different, some plugs were reversed and a few extra for emission components.harness1.JPG
 
Thanks Bob, the transmission appears to be fine. I believe all the issue's were in the engine.
I know I posted about the next part but it's part of the process. Everything that would fit in my baby powdercoat oven got the treatment. mounts, brackets, covers everything I could. The original paint and chrome was to bad to save.
enginemount1.JPG enginemount4.JPG powder7.JPG
That part was kinda fun.
powder8.JPG powder10.JPG powder11.JPG powder12.JPG
 
kevski said:
Should be a good project, that seat needs to go to landfill though, those king/queen seats are bloody awful.
Click to expand...

Awww c’mon Kevski - that seat is awesome!

Just think how cool WingedWheel would look styling down Woodward Ave. during the annual Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit with a shiny new paint job, all that restored chrome and that snazzy Hondamatic CB750A four cylinder symphony as the soundtrack.....

.....hmmmmmm......

yeah...you’re right, it sucks.
 
Believe it or not the seat was the first thing to get thrown out.(Hideous is a good description) The pan is unique to that model, I had two other seats for a '78 K model and of course they are different. I have a factory correct replacement cover to go on but I need to do some repair to the seat pan.
pan1.JPG pan2.JPG It's not as bad as it looks but there must have been water under that tarp that just sat on the pan all soaked in to the foam. I have to rebuild one edge but I think I can sandwich a fitted piece of 18ga stock where it rusted through.
 
I painted the engine black because the PO left the battery in the bike all those years and of course it must have frozen or just burst. The case paint was a flaky, powdery mess. I regret to say there are no pics from that process until I get to the assembly stage. I did polish the valve cover and a few of the other aluminum parts to keep a balance.forks1.JPG forks2.JPGcovercapfinish.JPG valvecaps2.JPG
 
I guess I should back up for a minute as the first thing I worked on was the parking brake. That thing was so locked up it took me literally three days to get it apart.brakediagram.JPG Works just fine now. These bikes required a locking brake because there is a kickstand lever that puts the bike in neutral when you put it down.
 
Quite an unusual project! Not many bikes had automatic transmission in the 70s. Honda also had a 400auto? And MotoGuzzi I believe. I definitely like those panniers, are they Shoei or maybe Craven?
 

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